James m



No. 6l3,542. Patented Nov. I, I898.

J. m. WILLBUR.

CURTAIN BOD.

(Applichtion filed Apr. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

NORRIS PETERS no Pno'mumoq wisvmu'rou. a a

vthe material should be thin.

UNIT D STATES JAMES M. IVILLBUR,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURTAIN-ROD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,542, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed April 15, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WILLBUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Curtain-Rods, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to hollow slotted curtain-rodsin which the hooks or hook attachments slide in the slot to admit of the necessary movement of the curtain. In these hollow curtain-rods, which are ordinarily made of metal, the ordinary conditions require that This, if admitted, is especially injurious, for the reason that the slot is upon the under side, which is subjected to the tensile strain, and under the weight of the curtain (often of heavy material) and of the rod itself the rod tends to buckle and spread, so as to open the slot. Further, and especially where slender attachments are used-such as wire, for examplethe sharp edges of the slotted part out the attachments. These attachments also have a loop or ring or head which is connected to a shank extending down through the slot to the curtain and must slide on the bottom of the interior surface of the tube. As these tubes are usually made, and especially when circumferentially corrugated,.as shown, the easy sliding of the attachment is materially prevented. I have provided a slotted reinforce or way upon the bottom of the tube on the interior surface. I have shown this in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a section of the rod in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same with an attachment in place. Fig. 3 represents the rod in longitudinal section.

In the drawings the tubular rod is shown at A. It is preferably made of metal, as thin and light as is consistent with the required strength. It may be plain or ornamental, with spiral flutings, as shown in Fig. 1, or in any desired way or form. The attachment for the curtain slides within the core-tube on To obviate all these objections,

Serial No. 677,708. (No model.)

the reinforcements and the shank extends downward through the slot. This attachment is shown in Fig. 2, the ring or head at 2 and the shank at 3 extending through the slot. Very heavy curtains are often carried upon these rods, and in this form the weight rests upon the heads or rings of the attachments, which slide back and forth upon their hearing. This bearing in my improvement con sists of a reinforcing-strip B, which lies upon the bottom of the interior of the'tube, and has a slot 4, which registers with the slot 5 in the tube. The ends of the reinforce extend beyond the slot of the tube and are fixed in place by screws 6. The edges of the slot in the reinforce coinciding with those of the tube give a thicker and better bearing edge for the shank of various styles of curtain attachment, and the upper surface of the reinforcing-strip, which is made smooth, affords a better sliding surface for the heads or rings, which is especially desirable when corrugated material is used. Also the reinforce being applied at the under side of the hollow rod increases the tensile strength and prevents buckling, so that with it thinner and lighter material may be used in the tube.

I do not limit myself to any particular form of suspending device or attachment, as various forms may be used.

I claim In combination with a hollow curtain-rod formed of corrugated sheet metal and having a slot in its lower side, areinforcing or lining strip fixed to said lower side within the tube and having a slot corresponding to the slot in the tube, said reinforcing-strip having a plain upper surface forming a smooth unobstructed track or way for the sliding of the curtainfastening devices, substantially as described.

in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. WILLBURA WVitnesses: I

HENRY E. COOPER, WM. F. HALL.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 

